Comments on <i>Psst!</i> Wanna new roof, cheap?TypePad2014-03-21T16:40:20ZEric Zornhttp://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/tag:typepad.com,2003:http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2014/03/psst-wanna-new-roof-cheap/comments/atom.xml/Can't use my normal login for this commented on '<i>Psst!</i> Wanna new roof, cheap?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a73d987ed6970d2014-03-24T16:30:55Z2014-03-24T16:30:55ZCan't use my normal login for thisHave represented one of these larger companies in court. Not a good idea to use any contractor with a business...<p>Have represented one of these larger companies in court.<br />
Not a good idea to use any contractor with a business model that entirely depends on the insurance payout.<br />
Worst case?<br />
Your house will get liened.<br />
Your insurer will drop you.<br />
Your roof will leak forever due to subpar materials and unskilled workers.<br />
You will feel held hostage to whatever payment you did make.<br />
You will have to sue at LEAST one entity eventually.<br />
You may be named a witness by the Attorney General or State&#39;s Attorney when they latch on to your contractor.</p>Michael G. commented on '<i>Psst!</i> Wanna new roof, cheap?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a3fcdba4f5970b2014-03-21T19:38:21Z2014-03-21T19:38:21ZMichael G.Thanksgiving Day, arrived home after after work and was flagged down by my neighbor who was talking to someone while...<p>Thanksgiving Day, arrived home after after work and was flagged down by my neighbor who was talking to someone while standing at the rear of a car; both peering down into the vehicles open trunk. Shingles! The neighbor introduced me to this individual who then began the pitch. He specifically named one insurance company and said they have had a lot of success with this type of &quot;arrangement&quot;. I looked over the agreement, and noticed the fees and rates this person was charging to file the claim and do the paperwork. I then asked for his card or a contact number, neither of which he could produce, so I excused myself from the conversation.</p>
<p>A few weeks later, the neighbors roof was coming off. No permit, no safety harness on any of the workers, and nothing protecting the ground and my property from falling debris. In a few hours the roof was completely replaced on the home, and garage and as if by magic, no trace of the process was left... except for the shingles, plywood, and rusty nails that now covered my property.</p>
<p>Since then I have only stepped on 2 of those rusty nails, and am still picking up the shingles which were buried by snow. Oh, and the neighbors roof... Three months and a harsh winter later that new roof is already pealing off and I find myself wondering how his insurance premium is doing after this claim.</p>Paul commented on '<i>Psst!</i> Wanna new roof, cheap?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a73d967b1d970d2014-03-21T19:28:04Z2014-03-21T19:28:04ZPaulWhile some of these guys might be legit, particularly if there was a recent hailstorm that clearly caused the damage,...<p>While some of these guys might be legit, particularly if there was a recent hailstorm that clearly caused the damage, you have to be cautious about ever filing any claim with your homeowners insurance because virtually any claim will result in an increase in your premiums. Unless it&#39;s for a large amount of money, you&#39;re usually better off paying for repairs yourself.</p>quotidian commented on '<i>Psst!</i> Wanna new roof, cheap?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a5118b4e2f970c2014-03-21T19:18:59Z2014-03-21T19:18:59ZquotidianAgree, R.A. They are encouraging a fishy claim.<p>Agree, R.A. They are encouraging a fishy claim.</p>LizH commented on '<i>Psst!</i> Wanna new roof, cheap?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a73d967392970d2014-03-21T18:47:39Z2014-03-21T18:47:39ZLizHA company approached my sister, who has a bungalow in Portage Park. They had already done work in the neighborhood,...<p>A company approached my sister, who has a bungalow in Portage Park. They had already done work in the neighborhood, so she was able to see the work &amp; ask the owners what their experiences were. Then she had him do some work to fix the hail damage, and also to re-roof the shingled part of the roof, and fix the flashing in places, etc. Part was paid by her insurance. Turned out ok. She wouldn&#39;t have had it done by them if the company hadn&#39;t done other work nearby, though, and she checked them out with the BBB, that was ok too.</p>R.A. Stewart commented on '<i>Psst!</i> Wanna new roof, cheap?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a5118b42a6970c2014-03-21T18:18:43Z2014-03-21T18:18:43ZR.A. StewartSounds like you were careful dealing with this company, jpn, which certainly goes a long way toward getting a good...<p>Sounds like you were careful dealing with this company, jpn, which certainly goes a long way toward getting a good outcome.</p>
<p>What EZ&#39;s describing sounds much more clearly scammy--yes, we&#39;ve had a rough winter, but unless I&#39;m missing something, this outfit wasn&#39;t following up on a storm, just suggesting that they try to put the insurance company on the hook for normal wear and tear.</p>
<p>Besides the legal liability and the more basic fact of its being unethical, I&#39;d be thinking, if these guys will cheat an insurance company, why wouldn&#39;t they cheat me?</p>jpn commented on '<i>Psst!</i> Wanna new roof, cheap?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a3fcdb8bb4970b2014-03-21T17:42:18Z2014-03-21T17:42:18Zjpn(apologies).... ....as long as you don't give them a bunch of money up front, make sure your insurance company doesn't...<p>(apologies)....</p>
<p>....as long as you don&#39;t give them a bunch of money up front, make sure your insurance company doesn&#39;t either, and are satisfied with the work before the drive-by-firm gets paid, you&#39;re relatively safe...</p>jpn commented on '<i>Psst!</i> Wanna new roof, cheap?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a5118b3891970c2014-03-21T17:36:40Z2014-03-21T17:36:40ZjpnI'm pretty happy with the vinyl siding that was installed on my house after a hailstorm damaged our old aluminum...<p>I&#39;m pretty happy with the vinyl siding that was installed on my house after a hailstorm damaged our old aluminum siding. Damage I could not see, never noticed (and never would have) had not a siding company come by and pointed it out.</p>
<p>They were very useful: helped us provide documentation to the insurance company, negotiated with insurance company, and replaced our siding in a few days, and got paid by the insurance company, nothing out of my pocket at all (not even the deductible).</p>
<p>Not all are scammers. </p>
<p>It seems to me: as long as </p>quotidian commented on '<i>Psst!</i> Wanna new roof, cheap?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a3fcdb89c5970b2014-03-21T17:30:19Z2014-03-21T17:30:19ZquotidianThese guys will swarm towns after hailstorms. On the other hand, once I did get a legimitate free roof approved...<p>These guys will swarm towns after hailstorms. On the other hand, once I did get a legimitate free roof approved by State Farm and done by a real contractor, after a monster hailstorm bombed half my town.</p>Wendy C commented on '<i>Psst!</i> Wanna new roof, cheap?'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a73d965bcd970d2014-03-21T17:00:21Z2014-03-21T17:00:21ZWendy COne way to spot these charlatans is they'll say you don't need a building permit from the city before work...<p>One way to spot these charlatans is they&#39;ll say you don&#39;t need a building permit from the city before work starts. I&#39;ve seen my neighbors engage these people and have code enforcement show up at their homes not long after work begins. </p>